Chapter 360 - 308: The Convergence of the Human Path Will - Part 2
Sun Wu bellowed loudly, casting his "The Art of War by Sun Tzu" into the Vast Spirit River. A side sword appeared on the waist of the Great Confucian who, though originally graceful and scholarly, now took on an aura of slaughter and killing. He wrote in the void, "Adhere to the orthodox, win with the unorthodox!"
Confucianism and militarism merged, blending elegance with the art of war. With each stroke of the brush, the air of slaughter was embedded within the words.
"Kill a man within ten steps, leave no trace for a thousand miles," the Great Confucian penned the verse of the Immortal Poet Li Bai, from which a mighty murderous spirit was born.
An essay by a Confucian scholar could inherently contain murderous intent; it’s a vessel embracing all things under heaven, which accommodates everything in the cosmos. However, infused with the essence of militarism, the murderous aura intensified. The Great Confucian wielded his sword as a pen, crafting exceptionally sharp texts, directing verbal and written assaults at the Tathagata, with the killing intent of the militarists bursting forth, practically about to explode the heavens and the earth.
"Militaristic slaughter combined with Confucian orthodoxy?" Wukong was slightly surprised, but upon close consideration, it made sense; the Confucian scholars were adept at lip service and caustic wit, and their essays carried an undercurrent of lethal force. Militarism was inherently about killing; its fusion with Confucianism seemed natural.
Historically, many generals were known as "Confucian Generals," and this evolved Great Confucian elevated this style to its pinnacle.
"Activate the Arhat Great Array!" A thunderous shout commanded, and the Eighteen Arhats presided over the Arhat Great Array. Countless Arhats raised their hands as if propping up the firmament, and an enormous Arhat riding a tiger manifested.
This Arhat lay across the tiger, seemingly asleep. Suddenly awakening, the tiger arose with terrifying might and charged towards the Great Confucian evolved from Confucianism.
"Yin and Yang Integration, birthing all things!" Zou Zi, of the Yin-Yang School, made his move. The Yin-Yang scholars acted together at this moment, conjuring a gigantic Tai Chi Circle, like a grinding mill, which struck the Arhat.
After being hit by the Tai Chi, the Arhat seemed to revert to the origin, transforming into something akin to True Qi. This Tai Chi represented a primordial existence in the world, where Tao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, and these two are Yin and Yang, the Tai Chi.
"Hum rumble!"
The Great Array continued to operate relentlessly, with scholars of the Hundred Schools of Thought pitching in. Rivers stretched across the void, pressing down, but they couldn’t breach it—the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pilgrimage Formation was too formidable. Even a true Saint would struggle to destroy it; fortunate it was for the Human Sage that they were numerous, else they would have been crushed by the Tathagata in an instant. The Hundred Schools of Thought, which shone brilliantly during the Warring States period, were making their presence felt again, contending against the Tathagata at Mount Meru.